PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keiki Hale (ranked 1234 p4p, 24 weight class) and Daniel Kivela (ranked 2569 p4p, 108 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Hale
vs
Kivela

178 cm
26
260 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
275 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Keiki Hale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Daniel Kivela!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Winston Alpacca and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kivela fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hale to the ground. Kivela is now in Hale's guard.
My spies in Temp Spar Gym inform me that Kivela has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Hale is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kivela is aware though and is defending well.
Kivela advances position into side control!
Kivela slows the pace down.
Hale is looking for a sweep.
Hale is not content to let Kivela control the position.
Hale is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kivela's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kivela wants to control but Hale is keeping him busy.
Kivela frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Kivela is working for a kimura but Hale is defending it quite comfortably.

Kivela is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hale looking for submissions off his back.
Hale is not content to let Kivela control the position.
Hale is looking for a sweep. Kivela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kivela is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kivela is trying to work for a kimura but Hale is defending well.

Hale looking for submissions off his back.
Kivela is trying to control. Hale wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kivela is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Kivela is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
We've been hearing good reports from Hale's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Hale is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kivela's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kivela's back!

Hale working for a choke but Kivela is defending well.
Kivela tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kivela keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hale wants to take his opponent's back but Kivela doesn't allow it.
Kivela tries to hold on but Hale postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hale looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Kivela working to try and regain half guard.

Kivela defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hale.

Hale working for a guillotine from mount but Kivela is in no mood to give up.
Kivela tries to hold on but Hale pushes him away.

Hale wants to finish this one by submission but Kivela is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hale.
Hale with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kivela tries to lock up and control but Hale gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Hale looking for a guillotine from mount but Kivela is having none of it.
Kivela wants to hold on but Hale pushes him away.
Kivela is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Hale is staying active.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivela is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kivela is still trying to improve position.

Hale is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kivela to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kivela shrugs it off.
Kivela tries to lock up and control but Hale gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kivela is looking to get to half guard.
Kivela wants to hold on but Hale pushes him away.
Kivela is desperately trying to improve his position but Hale has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kivela wants to control but Hale is having none of it.

Hale is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kivela to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kivela shrugs it off.
Kivela wants to control but Hale is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keiki Hale dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kivela misses with an uppercut. Hale saw that one coming.
Hale appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
A big left from Hale misses.
Kivela with the counter takedown but Hale avoids it easily.
Hale ducks under a wild hook from Kivela.
Hale with a nice cross.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kivela.
Hale ducks under a wild hook from Kivela.
Kivela staying out of range there.
Kivela fails with the takedown.
Hale feinted with a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivela staying out of range there.
Kivela throws a looping overhand right but Hale ducks down to avoid it.
Kivela steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hale.
Kivela misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slow jab from Kivela misses its intended target.
Hale half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Kivela scores with a nice strike.
Hale on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hale tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kivela sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hale somewhat.
Kivela misses with a straight right.
Hale appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kivela stuffs the takedown.
Hale uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kivela.

Hale shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kivela's guard.
Hale tries to free his leg and advance position but Kivela is retaining full guard.

Kivela looking for a guillotine here but Hale defends easily.
Kivela wants to sweep here but Hale controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale tries to free his leg and advance position but Kivela is retaining full guard.
Kivela has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hale pushes down on Kivela's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Hale is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Kivela actively working from the bottom here.
Keiki Hale overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hale seems to be working for a kimura but Kivela defends the submission attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hale is trying to work for a kimura but Kivela is defending well.

Hale wants to work for an arm triangle but Kivela is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivela tries to roll over but Hale keeps him under control.
Kivela trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Hale manages to pass to mount!

Hale is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kivela to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kivela shrugs it off.
Hale avoids the attempt from Kivela to control.
Kivela really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kivela tries to hold on but Hale pushes him away.
Hale prevents Kivela from getting the reversal.

Hale working for a guillotine from mount but Kivela is in no mood to give up.

Hale is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kivela is surviving well by controlling Hale's body position as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hale jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kivela manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kivela manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hale's best efforts.
Kivela regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hale preventing the sweep.
Hale looking to pass the guard.
Kivela wants to sweep but no luck.
Hale has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hale drops back looking for a leg! Kivela is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kivela manages to kick Hale off! Hale jumps back into Kivela's guard.
Kivela working a defensive guard but Hale passes into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kivela makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kivela.
Hale advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keiki Hale dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hale gets a takedown into half guard.
Kivela slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hale advances to half guard.

Hale is working for a kimura but Kivela is defending it quite comfortably.
Kivela wants to control but Hale is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kivela looking for submissions off his back.

Hale is trying to work for a kimura but Kivela is defending well.
Hale wants to control but Kivela is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale moves into full mount! Kivela won't be happy about that!
Kivela tries to reverse the position but Hale maintains control.
Kivela keeps trying to improve his position.
Hale with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Kivela defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hale.
Kivela looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Hale has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hale looking for the choke but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivela trying to control the hands but Hale breaks the grip.

Hale working for a choke but Kivela is defending well.
Kivela wants to control his opponent's hands but Hale gets his hands free.
Hale doesn't have the hooks in and Kivela manages to turn into his guard.
Kivela wants to control from the top but Hale keeps moving.

Hale is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kivela is aware though and is defending well.
Kivela slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Kivela is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hale looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Kivela seems content to control.
Daniel Kivela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kivela looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kivela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hale is looking for a sweep. Kivela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kivela is looking for a kimura here.
Kivela winds up and cracks Hale with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Kivela is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivela with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Keiki Hale is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hale wants to get back to full guard.

Hale looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hale is trying to get back to full guard.
Hale is staying active underneath Kivela, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kivela is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hale actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kivela is pressing down on Hale's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hale is holding on for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keiki Hale showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hale, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Keiki Hale!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Keiki Hale!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Keiki Hale!

Keiki Hale wins by unanimous decision!
A victorious Keiki Hale thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.